Welcome,
Dear soul,
To this sacred space where we honor the turning of the seasons.
The fall equinox is a time of balance when day and night are equal,
And we are called to reflect on the harmony and duality within our own lives.
As the earth shifts from the vibrancy of summer to the stillness of autumn,
We too are invited to turn inwards,
To harvest the fruits of our labor,
And to prepare for the introspection of the coming months.
Begin by finding a comfortable position,
Either sitting or lying down.
Allow your body to settle and release any tension that you might be holding on to.
Take a deep breath in through your nose,
Gently sigh it out your mouth,
And let your breathing become slow and steady.
Let it be a rhythm that soothes your mind and body,
But doesn't require your full attention to maintain.
As you continue to breathe,
Bring your awareness to the center of your being,
To the space where your heart and soul reside.
Imagine a warm glowing light here,
Growing brighter with each inhale.
This light represents your inner wisdom,
Your inner balance,
In the harvest of all your experiences,
And its color will be whatever you associate with these qualities.
Let this light fill you with a sense of peace and connection.
Now let us journey into the energies of the fall equinox.
Visualize yourself standing at the edge of a vast forest,
The leaves around you just beginning to change color.
The air is crisp,
Carrying the scent of earth and wood smoke.
The sun hangs low in the sky,
Casting a golden glow that bathes the landscape in warmth and softness.
Take a moment to breathe in this scene,
To feel the transition from summer's heat to autumn's embrace.
As you step into the forest,
You'll notice the balance of light and shadow around you,
And you recognize this balance within yourself.
Take a moment to reflect on the areas of your life where balance is present.
Where do you feel aligned?
Where do you feel harmony between your responsibilities and your desires?
Between giving and receiving?
Between action and rest?
Acknowledge these areas with gratitude,
Honoring the equilibrium that you've cultivated.
Now turn your awareness to areas of your life where balance might be lacking.
Perhaps there's a relationship where you give more than you receive,
Or a project that consumes your time and energy without nourishing your spirit.
Maybe there's a habit or a pattern that pulls you out of alignment,
Creating dissonance in your body or mind.
As you identify these areas,
Hold them gently in your awareness without judgment,
Simply observing where imbalance may lie.
In this moment,
The fall equinox invites you to release what no longer serves you,
To let go of what weighs you down,
Just as the trees release their leaves to the earth.
Imagine these imbalances as leaves in your hands,
Turning golden and crisp.
With each exhale,
Feel yourself letting go,
Releasing these leaves to the wind to be transformed by the earth.
As you release,
You create space within yourself for new growth,
For renewal.
Now bring to mind the harvest of your life,
The achievements,
The lessons,
The growth you've experienced over the past few months.
What have you nurtured within yourself that is now ready to be harvested?
What fruits of your labor are you ready to gather and celebrate?
These could be tangible successes or more subtle internal shifts,
Moments of clarity,
Resilience,
Or compassion.
Allow yourself to acknowledge and honor these harvests,
Knowing that they are the rewards of your journey.
Just as a farmer knows when their crop has had enough time to grow,
So too should you acknowledge that all things,
Even journeys without end,
Have times when it's good to stop and see how far you've come.
So,
As you reflect on this harvest,
Consider how you can prepare for the coming months of introspection and stillness.
Just as the earth begins to rest and renew,
How can you create space for rest in your own life?
What practices or intentions can you set that will support you through the winter,
Nourishing your inner light even as the days grow shorter?
Perhaps it's the commitment to a regular meditation or setting boundaries to protect your energy.
Maybe it's the intention to deepen your spiritual practice or to connect more deeply with loved ones.
Think about how trees stop putting their energy into their leaves and draw it back into their trunks,
Allowing that part of them to grow strong and sturdy so that they are prepared for another spring of showing off their foliage.
The same goes for us.
Think about all the energy you've been putting out and how you can draw it back into yourself as you prepare for a period of quiet growth and reflection.
So take a few moments to sit with these reflections,
Allowing them to settle into your being.
Feel the balance of the equinox within you,
The harmony between light and dark,
Action and rest,
Growth and release.
Know that just as the earth moves through cycles,
So too do you,
And that this time of transition is a sacred part of your journey.
When you're ready,
Begin to bring awareness back to the present moment.
Feel the surface beneath you,
The air on your skin.
Take a deep breath in,
Filling your lungs with the crisp,
Renewing energy of the fall.
As you exhale,
Feel yourself grounding back into your body,
As you exhale,
Feel yourself grounding back into your body,
Carrying with you the insights and intentions you've cultivated in this meditation.
Know that you can return to this space of balance and reflection whenever you need to,
And that the energies of the fall equinox will continue to support you as you move forward on your path.
So gently wiggle your fingers and toes,
And when you feel ready,
Open your eyes,
Carrying the peace and wisdom of this meditation with you into your day.
So may this time of balance bring you clarity,
Renewal,
And a deep inner peace.
So until next time,
Never stop growing.
